Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis of a Selected Eye's Anterior Segment Parameters in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

Background: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is a systemic, age-related disorder characterized by the production and accumulation of pseudoexfoliation material. To date, detailed characteristics have not been published regarding the iridocorneal angle and cornea in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome determined through swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Methods: A total of 150 eyes of patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (ages 69-86 years) and 166 eyes in a control group (ages 54-79 years) were analyzed. Results: The central corneal thickness in the PEX group was 549.56 mu m and was slightly (insignificantly) higher than that of the control group (540.56 mu m). The anterior chamber of the eye was visibly shallower in patients with PEX syndrome than in those of the control group (2.49 mm vs. 3.07 mm; p < 0.001). The Fourier analysis parameters of the cornea showed multiple differences between the PEX and control groups. With respect to iris area, the parameters showed statistically significant differences between the PEX and control groups in all four quadrants of the eye. No statistical significance was found in the PEX group for the iridocorneal angle parameters, or corneal and lens parameters depending on gender and age. Conclusions: PEX syndrome is characterized by a significant impact on the anterior eye segment, including higher anterior and posterior keratometric values, lower anterior chamber depth, higher iris thickness, and narrower angle parameters. The characteristic anterior eye segment features of PEX syndrome can be detected using SS-OCT, which could potentially assist clinicians in properly managing the disease.

Automated summary

This study used SS-OCT to investigate the characteristics of the iridocorneal angle and cornea in patients with PEX syndrome. The results showed that PEX syndrome significantly affected the anterior eye segment, including higher keratometric values, shallower anterior chamber depth, thicker iris, and narrower angle parameters. These characteristic features of PEX syndrome can be detected using SS-OCT, which can assist clinicians in managing the disease properly.